Hollywood Bowl

The largest natural amphitheater in the United States, this Art Deco-era band shell tucked into the Hollywood Hills seats 18,000 and hosts some of the biggest musical acts in the world. Just as when it first opened in 1922, the Bowl serves as the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; since 1991, it's also been the home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

The outdoor Bowl's performance season generally runs from early June to October, featuring acts from every major musical genre; continuing into the winter, 'lease events' are put on by acts who lease the stage here for a limited time. During the main season, an enormous movie screen allows for popular events like movie-musical singalongs (The Sound of Music is a perennial favorite) and orchestral accompaniment in place of movie soundtracks. Every year on the Fourth of July, the holiday show culminates in a spectacular display of fireworks.

Parking at the Bowl is limited and the main thoroughfare outside the venue (Cahuenga Boulevard/Highland Avenue) is generally bottle-necked with traffic during performance nights; many patrons therefore opt to leave their cars at the nearby Hollywood & Highland mall and walk a few blocks north, or at the Universal City subway station lot and take a free shuttle bus to and from the Bowl.